Which level of ELTL and RLTL should I get

[mountains27]

I have been looking at these two programs and they look like what I need in our homeschool right now. I have a 9 1/2 year old who would be going into 4th grade, reads very well and loves grammar (for some reason that is beyond me!) I was thinking level 4 but have noticed some people go down a level on these programs.

For my 8 year old would be going into 3rd grader, I was thinking of getting the level 2 ELTL and then level 3 RLTL. He reads OK but definitely needs a program to help him out. He is doing ETC book 3 now and reads at about an early 2nd grade level if I had to guess? I thought level two looked to easy for him but maybe im missing something there. 

 

[UCF612]

I bought level 2 for my upcoming 2nd grader and level 3 for my upcoming 4th grader. My 4th grader is a strong reader but I picked level 3 because it introduced diagramming which neither of us have done before. We haven't started yet though so I can't say I made the right choices but just looking them over I think we'll be happy. I am adding CAP W&R Narrative 2 to my 4th graders plan but I might end up regretting the additional work.

[Holly]

We used ELTL this year (levels 2, 4, and 5).  The grammar in Level 4 is pretty heavy, with lots of diagramming.  Level 3 has a stronger emphasis on narrations.  I think either choice will be fine for your oldest.  Level 5 reviews all the grammar, so if she didn't understand it completely with Level 4, she'd re-cover the material the following year.  My DC were 10 and 13 and had no issues understanding the grammar (unlike their unfortunate mother who had to read a couple lessons multiple times).  :blush:  

 

Level 2 just has a light introduction to parts of speech, and would give him more time to work on reading skills.  We didn't use RLTL, so I'm not sure about placement there.

 

My understanding is that classical homeschoolers tend to use ELTL on grade level, and Charlotte Mason homeschoolers schedule it a year behind (to delay the grammar a bit).  

Edited June 18, 2016 by Holly

[mountains27]

Thank you, maybe I'll get level 2 and 3 for now and then if my oldest feels like it's too easy I'll get 4 but buying 3 wouldn't be a waste because I'll have it for when the youngest is ready.  We have been slacking on any LA this past year so I think starting slow wouldn't be a bad idea :/

[boscopup]

I'm using ELTL levels 2, 3, and 5 right now for grades 2, 4, and 7. My 2nd grader probably could have handled level 3, but I didn't want him in the same level as his older brother, and I'm fine with what level 2 gives him. He's a little guy, though precocious and enjoys writing. My 7th grader is doing level 5 because that was the highest level out, but he also could use the writing foundation that is taught at that level. There is a LOT of writing compared to what he was doing before (CLE LA). And the dictation is paragraphs long!

 

As far as the grammar goes, I'm totally fine with my kids getting grammar early on. The reason I use it behind grade level for the two older boys is because that's where they are in writing. Actually, my 4th grader might have even benefited from doing level 2, but sometimes he needs a challenge to keep things interesting. He is rising to the challenge for the most part. Sometimes the copywork is a little long for him. The dictation has been fine so far. The grammar has been no big deal, but my kids are all mathy, and grammar and diagramming are very mathematical processes. I don't expect any issues with them. :)

 

Anyway, I'd base placement more on writing ability rather than grammar. Level 2 includes copywork and oral narration. Level 3 includes longer copywork, short dictation, oral narration, and works up to written narration. Level 5 includes loads of copywork (commonplace book: fill up 1/2-1 page each time), paragraph long dictation, and written narrations with literary analysis added in. I believe later in the book they write short essays. I don't have level 4, but it would be something between the writing required in 3 and 5, obviously.

[silver]

You've gotten good input for ELTL, so I thought I'd speak to RLTL.

 

If you haven't done a program that has you mark up words (Spalding and LOE are the main ones), then it might be best to start with level 1 and just move through it really quickly. Level 1 of RLTL has more hand holding for the teacher (it includes more reasons for markings in the lists than the higher levels, which sometimes assume that you know the reasons) and learning markings on easier words is helpful for students that are new to it. It also gives you more time to learn all the phonograms. You can start level 1 once you're student has learned the first 26 phonograms (all the sounds of each letter of the alphabet) and then you continue teaching phonograms while doing the word lists. Levels 2-4 assume that your student already knows all 75 phonograms from the start.

[mountains27]

Thank you for the input. My youngest who I would be getting RLTL for was recently tested for LD and though nothing was detected they found that he wasn't able to sound out words, something I notice too. Which is why I think this program would be good for him. I think I will take your advice and check into getting level 1 to start. He does enjoy ETC a lot so I'll probably stick to that as well.

Is ELTL very similar to WWE?